NEWARK, N.J. – Tyree Thomas, a 29-year-old resident of Irvington, New Jersey, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being convicted of running a PCP distribution network and illegally possessing firearms. The sentence, handed down May 24, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton, reflects the seriousness of Thomas’s crimes and the dangers posed by individuals like him to the streets of New Jersey.
Known on the streets as “Hellboy,” Thomas pleaded guilty to nine counts of an indictment, admitting to the distribution of Phencyclidine (PCP) and possession of drugs with intent to distribute. The feds say Thomas conducted multiple sales to an undercover law enforcement agent between May 1, 2019, and August 21, 2019. The operation wasn’t just about moving product; it was about protecting the profits.
Prosecutors detailed how Thomas maintained an apartment in Orange, New Jersey, as a stash house for the PCP. More damningly, the apartment was also equipped with two loaded firearms, strategically positioned to safeguard the drugs and the cash generated from his illicit activities. This wasn’t a casual oversight – it was a deliberate attempt to arm himself against rivals or law enforcement, according to court documents.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, speaking through a press release, framed the case as a win for public safety. “This sentence sends a clear message: those who traffic drugs and use firearms to facilitate their criminal enterprises will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement read. But for many in Essex County, this is just one ripple in a much larger wave of drug-related violence.
The investigation, a joint effort led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New Jersey State Police, and the New Jersey Department of Corrections, built a solid case against Thomas. Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller of the ATF and Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan of the NJ State Police both deserve credit for bringing this dangerous criminal to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri and Megan Linares of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark prosecuted the case.
In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, Judge Wigenton has ordered Thomas to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his eventual release from prison. Whether this will be enough to keep “Hellboy” from returning to his old ways remains to be seen. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
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- Robert Downing, Sex Trafficking, Baltimore MD, 2023 · Florida
- David Allen Vickers, Sex Trafficking of Minors, Buffalo NY, 2023 · New York
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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